Cindy Bernhard

BIO

Cindy Bernhard is a painter living and working in Chicago. Her work has been exhibited nationally at Richard Heller Gallery, Baby Blue Gallery, One After 909, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Axis Gallery, Basement Projects, Manifest Gallery, Laguna Art Museum and the Museum of American Illustration in New York. She has exhibited internationally at Quinto Piso in Mexico, the Bruit Art Fair in Lebanon, Galerie Boicos in Paxos, Greece, and Paris, France. Her work has been featured at Juxtapoz, Hypebeast, Bad At Sports, Newcity, New American Paintings, and others.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My recent paintings depict dogs and cats in interior spaces. The animals act as stand-ins for the human figure allowing me to access viewers through ambiguity, humor, and empathy. Infused with humor, the paintings investigate altered states and mysteries by using symbolic objects which are placed in carefully constructed compositions. I am influenced by painting's rich history, specifically the oddly proportioned animals in Medieval paintings, religious paintings of the Renaissance, and Minimalism of the twentieth century. My work carries notions of these movements by juxtaposing classical painting techniques with contemporary modes of image making. Each painting is a playground of dualisms, from the way the work is painted, to what is being depicted in each painting. In Joints and Jesus, sharp edges are layered on top smooth airbrushed gradients, and an image of a cat caught in the act of genital licking is placed next to an image of Christ, all engulfed in the smoke from a smoldering joint. My paintings are full of heightened tensions and comedic relief, and each one tells a loose narrative about ritual and possible transcendence.

Interview with Cindy Bernhard

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you became interested in becoming an artist? Who or what were some of your most important early influences?

It's hard to answer this question without sounding cliche. I think like most artists, creating has always been central to my life.

Where are you currently based and what initially attracted you to working in this place? Are there any aspects of this specific location or community that have inspired aspects of your work?

I am currently living and working in Chicago. To me Chicago has a beautiful brutality to it that is attractive. The city is home to many wonderful painters and musicians and I am always inspired by the bands and exhibitions that I see.

What is a typical day like? If you don't have a typical day, what is an ideal day?

Not all days are exactly the same, but I make sure to keep a disciplined studio practice. Monday-Friday I am in the studio by 7am, and I paint for 8-10 hours a day. Saturday I do a lot of preliminary sketching to plan for new works.

What gets you in a creative mindset?

There are times that I feel effortlessly creative, but most days I work at it.

Can you walk us through your overall process? How long has this approach been a part of your practice?

Usually, my paintings begin from sketches that I doodle in my sketchbook. From there I will tighten up the drawings, choose a color palette, and transfer the drawing to a canvas to begin painting.

Can you talk about some of the ongoing interests, imagery, and concepts that have informed your process and body of work over time? How do you anticipate your work progressing in the future?

Currently I am interested in bright synthetic color palettes and interior spaces. I have been using recurring imagery of cats and dogs, smoke, joints, and dramatic shadows. I anticipate the work growing technically and conceptually and I am excited to see how!

As a result of the pandemic, many artists have experienced limited access to their studios or loss of exhibitions, income, or other opportunities. Has your way of working (or not working) shifted significantly during this time? Are there unexpected insights or particular challenges you’ve experienced?

The beginning of the pandemic I lost all of the shows I had scheduled. It was difficult, but I kept my head down and continued working. My work started transforming during that time and more shows ended up falling into place.

Who are some contemporary artists you’re excited about? What are the best exhibitions you’ve seen in recent memory and why do they stand out?

Hard question! I will narrow it down to the best exhibitions I have seen in the last 6 months. Lisa Yuskavage at David Zwirner and Celeste Rapone at Corbett vs Dempsey.

Do you have any tips or advice that someone has shared with you that you have found particularly helpful?

Be yourself.

What are you working on in the studio right now? What’s coming up next for you?

Currently in the studio I am working on paintings for Expo Chicago with Richard Heller Gallery, a group exhibition with Andrew Rafacz Gallery, and a solo exhibition in London.

To find out more about Cindy Bernhard check out her website and Instagram.